The Wisconsin Section of the American Chemical Society was chartered July 7, 1907. The initial membership list of 56 comprised college faculty members, students, and chemists connected with industry. The Section's territory included the entire state until 1908, when a separate Milwaukee Section was formed. Other boundary changes occurred in 1930 when the Northeast Wisconsin Section was organized in the lower Fox River Valley; in 1943 when six northern counties formed the Superior-Duluth Section; and in 1964 when four western counties joined the Minnesota Section. These changes reflect the growth of the organization and the members' desire to be near the activity center of their section. In 1966, Wisconsin Section membership totaled 673.
The primary function of the organization is the presentation of lectures on all phases of chemistry to open section meetings. Initially, lecturers were local people but soon the program was expanded to include national figures as well. The lecture titles illustrate the changing areas of concentration in the field of chemistry.
A more detailed history of the Wisconsin Section is included as the first document in these records.
